Climate Change\|Climate Change Primary

Developing global citizens

In the increasingly globalised world of the 21st century it is essential that our children and young people see themselves as global citizens and are empowered to make an effective contribution socially, politically, economically, culturally and environmentally.

It is for this reason that global citizenship is embedded within Curriculum for Excellence and why schools are being encouraged to introduce the principles of global citizenship into learning and teaching and across all areas of school life.

Climate change offers an ideal vehicle for exploring what it means to be a global citizen as it forces us to explore issues around needs and wants, rights and responsibilities and the interconnectedness of peoples and nature. The controversy surrounding the issue also provides a rich opportunity for our future global citizens to discuss and debate, develop critical thinking skills, and explore bias in the media reporting of this issue.

It is also important for children and young people to have opportunities to be active global citizens, and climate change offers many possibilities for young people to get involved with global footprinting or Eco-School activities, or volunteering with biodiversity and campaign groups.

Learn more about developing global citizens and sustainable development education within Curriculum for Excellence.

Reflective questions

  • How can we use the theme of climate change to develop learners as global citizens and introduce sustainable development education into learning experiences?
  • How can we give learners a say in what they learn and how they learn it to create exciting and motivational learning experiences?
  • How can we use climate change as a theme to encourage learners to be active citizens and make an effective contribution to their local and global community?